Thresher.



'BATBNTQDMAR 417, 1903.

J. J. SKINNER.

THRESHBR.

APPLIGATIQN FILED 00117, 1901.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

)I0 MODEL.

No. 722,919. A PATBNTED MAR. 1:7, 1909.

I. J. SKINNER.

9 THRBSHER.

APPLICATION FILED '009117, 1901. No MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i l H HHH IHIHHIHIQIIIIIIIIIIHHHH www UNITED STATES a PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. SKINNER, OF PASO-ROBLES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO STOOKTONMANUFACTURING COMPANY.Y

`THRESHER.

SPECIFICATION forming para of Letters. Patent No.` 22,919, dated March17, 1903. Application iiled October 1'7, 1901. Serial No. 79j019. (Nomodel.)

To a/ZZ whom t m/cty concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. SKINNER, a citi! of very few operative partsproduces singularly eective results, delivering the straw in bettershape than ordinarily and without cracking or injuring the grain.

A machine embodying my invention oomprises as the main separating devicemovable brushes, the tension or stiffness of which can be Varied,operating in combination with a 2o bed, table, or concave havingsuperficial corrugations. The grain is compelled to pass between thesebrushes and the saidV bed eX- posed to a rubbing action, which separatesthe berries from the straw. Other devices, consisting of fan and screen,act subsequently to the main threshing mechanism and complete theseparation. The peculiar oonstrucf tion and arrangement of brushes,concave and other parts of the complete machine are 3o fully hereinafterdescribed and are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line @c a; of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a detail cross-section of the bed or concave. Fig. 4 is a planof a modified form of the same. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of theconcave. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the modicatiou of Fig. 4. v

The operative parts of the thresher are sup-A ported bya frame A, at therear end of which is the casing B, in which the final separation ofgrain and straw is accomplished by means hereinafter described. At theupper forward end of the frame is the feed, comprising a chute or hopperC, down which an attendant feeds the grain into the machine. From theframe is supported the bed D, which extends for substantially the entirelength and width of the machine and is provided with trans- 5o verseacute angular ribs or teeth d, the ineline of such teeth being towardthe rear and its straight substantially vertical face toward the frontor feeding end. With this ribbed bed plate coperate a series ofpeculiarly constructed and arranged brushes, the grain being carriedthrough the machine between the bed and said brushes. Each brushcomprises a long narrow rectangular head or stock E, supplied withflexible bristles made of any suitable' material, such as wire orwood-fiber. 6o I have found ratan well adapted for the purpose. vThefront end of the brush-stock is formed on a curve, which gives acurvature to the brush atthe feedV end, facilitating the entrance of thegrain beneath it. Any number of these brushes can be used, according tothe width of the machine. i In the drawings three are shown, and that isthe number' I prefer to use. The'brush-heads are provided with boxese,which are suspended from crank- 7o shafts F F, journaled in the framenear the respective ends of the latter. Each shaft has three cranks, setat thirds of the circumference. The cranks in the same longitudinal lineare similarly disposed and are connected to one brush. In its lowestposition any brush rests on the corrugated bed, and I provide anadjustment for the bed by which, first, the tension of thebrush-bristles can be regulated by varying its Vrelation to the bed,and, sec- 8o ondly, the proper relations between brushes and bed can besecured after the brushes have become worn. This adjustment is securedby suspending the cross-timbers G G, which support the bed, on threadedbolts H, provided with nuts h. Thus the Whole bed can be adjusted up ordown on the bolts and Yheld at any adjustment relatively to the brushes.The two crank-shafts are given a rotary motion in the direction of thearrows 9o in any suitable manner. Each brush thereby derives alongitudinal swingingl movementfrom two centers, being raised from thecorrugated bed and swinging up and forward and then down and backward incontact with 95 the bed, the movements of the series of brushes beingsuccessive as the cranks follow around. The rubbing action between thebrushes and bed separates the grain from the straw and causes both tomove back toroc ward the rear of the machine. Within the casing at therear end is a screen I, upon which the grain is discharged by thebrushes, while the straw is taken up by the picker J and transferred tothe endless apron or strawcarrier K. The screen is suspended by hangersfrom the frame of the machine and is shaken by a crank 'i andconnecting-rod j, driven from the shaft lo. Beneath the screen I is anoppositely-inclined grain-board L, leading to the discharge passage orspout M. An airblast is directed upwardly through the sieve by a fan N,which drives off the chaff and insures a supply of clean grain to thedischargespout.

The several moving parts of the machine can be driven in any suitableway, as by belts or sprocket-chains, as preferred.

In the drawings I have shown a belt O from a pulley P on one crank-shaftto gear up the fan shaft to the requisite rapid rotation. From the othercrank-shaft power is shown as applied to the straw-carrier by thesprockets n and 0, chain p, and a twisted belt q to the roller-shaft rof the carrier.

It is not necessary to connect the two crankshafts by a belt, becausewhen power is applied to one of them the other will be driven, derivingits motion through the brushes acting as connecting-rods. By having thecranksv set on thirds, one set of cranks at least will always bedriving. Q indicates a pulley on the forward crank-shaft, which canserve as a power-pulley and derive rotation from any suitable source,such as an engine. The pulley P also acts as a balance-wheel and keepsthe motion of the crank-shafts steady and uniform and without jar orshake.

Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 relate to' the construction of the toothed bed.This is preferably made in metallic sections, so that several arerequired in the length of the machine, each section being of the fullwidth of the machine. These sections are supported by angle-rails S,which rest upon the longitudinal beams T. The sections of the bed areprovided with strengthening-ribs s at the sides, which are flush withthe upper edges of the teeth, as shown in the figures last referred to.Figs. 3 and 5 represent the bed as originally used in threshing grain;but in Figs. 4c and 6 I have illustrated a modification which may alsobe used'in the threshing of grain, but which I have designed with morespecial reference to the threshing of beans, which are frequently mixedwith dirt. In this construction the bed is numerously perforated, theperforations u extending through it from the bottoms of the curvesbetween the teeth. The dirt and any foreign matter which can pass theseperforations may fall upon the ground or upon any suitable receptacle,such as the chute U, through which it is discharged. In using thisperforated bed in threshing grain it is the intention that all reactieor part of the grain should pass through these perforations, and in thiscase I provide a traveling belt or carrier immediately below `the bedinY order to convey the grain to the equivalents as fall properly withinthe spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a thresher, a dat bed iu combination with a brush, cranks abovethe bed, in which said brush is mounted at both ends and substantiallyparallel with the bed, and means for operating the cranks whereby thewhole brush-surface strikes the material on the bed, moves along thebed, and leaves the bed, substantially as set forth.

2. In a thresher, a fiat bed in combination with a brush, cranks abovethe bed, in which said brush is mounted at both ends, and substantiallyparallel with the bed, means for operating the cranks whereby the wholebrush-su rface strikes the material on the bed, moves along the bed, andleaves the bed, and means for adjusting the bed relatively to saidbrush, substantially as set forth.

3. In a thresher, a flat corrugated and perforated bed, in combinationwith brushes above said bed, cranks from which said brushes aresuspended at both ends, and means for operating said cranks, whereby theentire surfaces of said brushes are moved bodily into contact withmaterial upon the bed, and along said bed, and away from said bed,substantially as set forth.

4. In a thresher,a relatively stationary bed, having atransversely-corrugated surface, a series of brushes whose combined areais approximately equal to that of said bed, a pair of crank-shafts eachhaving a plurality of cranks, set at different angles, from which saidbrushes are suspended at both ends, and means for operating saidcrank-shafts, whereby the brush-surfaces are bodily, individually andsuccessively caused to strike material on said bed, and to move alongsaid bed, and then away from said bed, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 21st day of September, 1901.

JOHN J. SKINNER.

Witnesses:

A. PFISTER, R. W. MARTINOFF.

IIO

